(Fortaleza) Brazil, June 29 (IANS) Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal Saturday showed his concern for the heat and humidity in Brazil’s northern coastal city here where the Netherlands and Mexico will play their FIFA World Cup round of 16 duel Sunday.
“I came here a year ago, and today it is hotter,” Van Gaal told a pre-game press conference here, reports Xinhua.
“We try to get fit to the climate here but up till now I have to say that not everyone is fit.”
“Our opponents Mexico are better acclimatized than us,” he noted, adding, “we have to face extreme conditions and it will be a very difficult match.”
Van Gaal jokingly also asked for more water to be prepared around the pitch.
Furthermore, Van Gaal showed his dissatisfaction over the pitch conditions.
“The pitch is very important for a match. I checked the pitch here. It is not that good.”
However, Van Gaal praised his team’s spirit, terming the group stage “fantastic” and his 23 players “cohesive”.
“We produce and keep the harmony among the players and staff. I enjoy it,” he said.
The Netherlands recorded three straight victories, including the 5-1 humiliation over defending champions Spain, and 10 goals to top Group B, which also included Chile and Australia.
The Dutch coach expressed his confidence in beating Mexico, saying he had found the way out, and asked journalists to “wait and see”.
Van Gaal worried about heat, humidity in Fortaleza added by Indian newspaper Sydney on
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